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Need Help w/ Itinerary-Redwood NP, Mendocino, Sea Ranch Lodge

Need Help w/ Itinerary-Redwood NP, Mendocino, Sea Ranch Lodge

Old Jul 21st, 2017, 08:46 AM
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Need Help w/ Itinerary-Redwood NP, Mendocino, Sea Ranch Lodge

My husband and I are flying into Oakland in late August for an 8 day trip (2 flight days and 6 days to explore Northern California). We're trying to determine how much time to spend at each place and would also welcome feedback if our plans could be improved.

Here are out tentative plans:

Day 1 - Arrive Oakland late afternoon. Drive to Santa Rosa or Healdsburg and spend the night.
Day 2 - Drive to Redwood National Park - Hotel in Arcata or Eureka
Day 3 - Spend day in RNP - Hotel in Arcata or Eureka again
Day 4 - Drive down coast taking in the scenery - Stay at Agate Cove in Mendocino
Day 5 - Spend day relaxing & investigating Mendocino area - Stay at Agate Cove again
Day 6 - Move down the coast to Sea Ranch Lodge (my husband is an architect and interesting in experiencing Sea Ranch). Spend the night there.
Day 7 - Drive to Oakland - Explore if time, have dinner, spend night
Day 8 - Explore more of Oakland area. Late afternoon out of Oakland

So my questions are:

1. Are we spending enough time in Redwood National Park?
2. Should we spend 2 days in Mendocino or in the Sea Ranch Lodge area?
2. Instead of exploring Oakland, should we spend more time at RNP, Mendocino, or Sea Ranch?
3. Is there anywhere else we should think of spending time and if so, where and how much time?

Would also love ideas for restaurants (great food/service whether it's a dive or a 5 star establishment), hotels, or sites to see. We love nature, but don't really do much hiking. We also love seeing historical sites and interesting museums. I spend a lot of time planning our trips trying to get the best experience for our dollars so any tips on saving money are always welcome too.

We've been to SF a couple of times, but the farthest north we've been is to Mill Valley. Really looking forward to seeing the northern coast and Redwood National Park.

Thanks in advance for you help.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 09:15 AM
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Although Oakland has a lively dining scene, I would not forego time in RNP, Mendocino or Sea Ranch to spend a night in Oakland if you have an afternoon flight, especially since your stated purpose is to see the northern coast.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 09:50 AM
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SAB, I was going to say the same thing that you just said - Oakland has nothing, perhaps better restaurants, - than seeing Redwood NP, Mendocino or Sea Ranch. With the amount of time you have, I might stay in Healdsburg, then head over to the coast and stay in Mendocino for 2 nights, down to Sea Ranch for 2 nights then drive down and stay in Inverness. If it's redwoods, you really want to see, get up early and go to Muir Woods. With limited parking, this time of year you really have get there within the first hour or two of opening.

Although I've never officially been to Redwood NP, I just feel it may be too far north for this trip. Keep in mind also that in the summer, the northern coast of California can be very foggy.

Let us know what you decide, and we can further advise.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 12:07 PM
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>>Hotel in Arcata or Eureka>Are we spending enough time in Redwood National Park?>Should we spend 2 days in Mendocino or in the Sea Ranch Lodge area?>Instead of exploring Oakland, should we spend more time at RNP, Mendocino, or Sea Ranch?>Is there anywhere else we should think of spending time and if so, where and how much time?
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 03:36 PM
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One of my favorite places is Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek State Park. Walk among the ferns draping down the canyon walls. Truly beautiful.

Check out the Samoa Cookhouse near Eureka. It is a long time lumber camp style eatery. Meals are served family style. A logging museum is there also.

http://www.samoacookhouse.net/

I have stayed in Eureka before. While it is nothing to write home about, the Old Town area near the bay front is quirky and fun.

Have a wonderful time.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 03:46 PM
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Ditto the Samoa Cookhouse.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 11:26 PM
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I recommend Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino village:
https://www.cafebeaujolais.com/
If you like fish, order the sturgeon.

I agree with janisj, stay in Ferndale or Trinidad. Highway 101 runs right through Eureka, along city streets.

Ferndale is a cute Victorian village near the road to the Lost Coast. Trinidad is on the sea and closer to the redwoods of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. They're both more scenic than Eureka or Arcata.
Brochure for Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/415/fi...nalWeb2016.pdf
Because the community of Trinidad is small, there aren't many places to stay.

The Victorian architecture of Old Town Eureka is well-worth seeing. Don't miss Eureka's Carson Mansion and Eureka Books in Old Town Eureka.
http://www.redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=3265

I would stay in Healdsburg instead of Santa Rosa. Please be aware that you'll have a long drive from Healdsburg to Ferndale/Eureka/Arcata/Trinidad. And instead of staying on Highway 101 the whole time, you'll want to detour through the "Avenue of the Giants" part of the way.

As you are interested in historic sites, you'll likely enjoy Fort Ross State Historic Park. It's around a half hour drive south of Sea Ranch.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=449
Enjoyed our meal at St. Orres. It's in Gualala, north of Sea Ranch.

I also agree with janisj that you might consider staying in Marin County instead of Oakland if you have an afternoon flight out of Oakland. For rural charm, I'd pick Inverness or Olema (they're close to one another and close to Pt. Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay). These are small places so accommodation is limited. Give yourself at least two hours to get to Oakland Airport if you stay in Olema or Inverness, as you'll have to drive through some curvy roads before you get to 101. There can also be lots of traffic on 580.
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Old Jul 21st, 2017, 11:28 PM
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Have you seen this map of Redwood National Park?
https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvis...RNSP-11x14.pdf
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 01:53 PM
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I have to disagree that there's nothing worth seeing in Oakland. If you like botanical gardens, the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley is excellent, and you could spend at least two or three hours (or more) there. It's near the top of a hill, and there are nice views of the bay from areas of the garden. It covers 34 acres, and has plants from all around the world, including many rare and endangered species; different areas of the garden are arranged by country and/or continent. According to their web site, it has one of the largest and most diverse plant collections in the U.S. I especially enjoyed all of the different and interesting kinds of cacti they had in greenhouses, as well as the rose garden. It was established in 1890, so many of the plantings are large and mature. It even has a redwood grove. For more info, here's their web site: http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 04:12 PM
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Yes - there are some worthwhile things in Oakland - as there are in just about any city. And I've visited the Botanic Gardens (which are actually in Berkeley) 3 or 4 times. But IMO just not when one's time is soooooo limited.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 07:24 PM
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Driving from Oakland in the late afternoon will mean very heavy commute traffic, not something I would want to do after a flight. You might consider staying near the airport and heading out early the next morning.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 04:51 PM
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lovebug, as you're interested in historic sites, you might also be interested in a few lighthouses along the north CA coast. Point Arena Lighthouse has a striking setting and you can often see wildlife, such as harbor seals, on the rocks nearby.
http://pointarenalighthouse.com/

If you make it to Point Reyes National Seashore (in northern Marin County), the Point Reyes Lighthouse also has a dramatic location. It's often foggy and windy here, but, nonetheless, beautiful. The drive to the lighthouse is wonderful on a clear sunny day. From the parking lot, it's a half mile walk to the lighthouse.
https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/lighthouse.htm

The Point Cabrillo Light Station near Caspar, Mendocino, is smaller, but worth mentioning as you'll be in the area. Note, there's a bit of walking to get to the lighthouse.
http://pointcabrillo.org/
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 05:25 PM
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>>You might consider staying near the airport and heading out early the next morning.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 07:36 AM
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Such great feedback and info! Thanks to all who have replied. Even though it's a long drive to RNP, it's on our national parks bucket list so have decided to keep it on our itinerary. I've made a reservation for one night in Healdsburg, but instead of driving straight from the airport, we'll take the suggestion from janisj to have dinner at some place like Skates to allow traffic to subside before taking off for Healdsburg. From Healdsburg, it's off to RNP for 2 days.

I do have a few more questions to firm up the remainder of the trip:

1. Mendocino - Agate Cove is requiring a 3 night stay to make reservations. This would mean skipping our overnight stay at Sea Ranch Lodge which we were so looking forward to. Is there enough to see and do around Mendocino to justify staying 3 nights there? Also, given we'll be in the Mendocino area over the Labor Day holiday, should we be making dinner reservations? Any ideas for restaurants would be appreciated?

2. Would dinner reservations be necessary when we're farther north near RNP? We like the idea of the Samoa Cook House so will check it out. Any other places we should consider for lunch or dinner?

3. What kind of gear should we plan on taking if we're going to take some short hikes either in the RNP area or Mendocino area? How bad are the mosquitoes in late August?

4. What about cell phone and wi-fi coverage when we're in RNP or some of the more remote areas? Should we plan on not having any?

Thanks!
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 08:34 AM
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Check and see if Little River Inn will do a 2 nighter -- I'm pretty sure they will. Not in Mendocino but in a glorious location and close enough to Mendocino/Ft Bragg.

https://www.littleriverinn.com

Dinner bookings are advised on Fri/Sat nights in Mendocino or some Ft Bragg places. But not usually necessary to make them far ahead.


>>2. Would dinner reservations be necessary when we're farther north near RNP? >3. What kind of gear should we plan on taking if we're going to take some short hikes either in the RNP area or Mendocino area? How bad are the mosquitoes in late August?>4. What about cell phone and wi-fi coverage when we're in RNP or some of the more remote areas? Should we plan on not having any?
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 03:53 PM
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For Mendocino, you can also try Heritage House for a two-night stay, but I assume for Labor Day weekend, accommodation prices will be high:
http://www.heritagehouseresort.com/default-en.html


If you go to Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino village, reservations are required.

You absolutely want to walk around the Mendocino Headlands.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=442

For longer hikes in Mendocino: Russian Gulch and Van Damme State Park. Scroll down these state park web pages for hiking suggestions.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=433
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=432

A lot of folks visit Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. It's a pretty spot, but super-busy.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attrac...alifornia.html
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 04:03 PM
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Do try to visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical gardens just south of the Hwy 1/Hwy 20 junction

http://www.gardenbythesea.org
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